Ferrer A Perfect 12 Against Almagro

© Queimadelos/Valencia Open 500Jurgen Melzer reached his first semi-final since February.

Top seed David Ferrer reached the Valencia Open 500 semi-finals on Friday as he defeated fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, the sixth seed, 6-3, 7-5. Ferrer improved to a 12-0 lead over Almagro in their FedEx ATP Head2Head Series by saving all four break points he faced for victory in 82 minutes.

The 30-year-old Ferrer has already secured his place in the eight-man field at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and Almagro is hoping to join him at the season finale for the first time. The Murcia native slipped to 11th in the South African Airways ATP Rankings Race To London on Friday, though, with Richard Gasquet reaching the semi-finals at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

Ferrer is looking to win his sixth ATP World Tour title of the season, which would tie him with Roger Federer who currently leads the 2012 standings. The Valencia native won his hometown tournament in 2008 (d. Almagro) and 2010 (d. Granollers) and has a 23-5 event record.

Ferrer next will meet Ivan Dodig, who defeated Croatian countryman and seventh seed Marin Cilic 6-2, 7-6(6). Cilic fired 10 aces, but was broken five times by the No. 110-ranked Dodig, who clinched victory in just over two hours. The 27-year-old Dodig is through to his first ATP World Tour semi-final of the season.

World No. 38 Jurgen Melzer reached his first ATP World Tour semi-final since February as he defeated upcoming Belgian David Goffin 7-6(7), 6-4. In a match featuring seven breaks of serve, the Austrian converted four of his five opportunities to claim victory in one hour and 39 minutes.

The 31-year-old Melzer earned his 20th match win in a season highlighted by winning his fourth ATP World Tour title at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis (d. Raonic). The left-hander is making his debut in Valencia.

Melzer goes onto face Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov, who dismissed defending champion Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-0, 6-2 in just 62 minutes. In a dominant display, the No. 21-ranked Dolgopolov dropped just 10 service points and broke Granollers five times from seven chances. Granollers won the biggest title of his career last year at this ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard-court tournament when he defeated Juan Monaco in the final.

The 23-year-old Dolgopolov is bidding to win his second ATP World Tour title of the year after victory at the Citi Open in Washington D.C. (d. Haas) in August. He has a 33-23 match record on the season. 

Buy Tickets | TV Schedule | Watch Live Powered By TennisTV